Babies Are Blessings Essentials

Happy world doula week! ❤️

I love this ❤️ There's a time for everything, and you will get your pink back ❤️

My twins definitely don't like being apart! Even now at 5 years old, twin B will still ask to be cuddled (more like smothered!) by twin A 💖💜

Our very own senior student, Ashley Jungjohan is a twin herself. When I asked her what’s the most important thing for me to know about twins, she responded immediately that they don’t like being apart. Even in birth.

And when baby A was waiting for her sister, we made sure to remind her that her sister was safe and joining her soon.
When sister finally joined us, we put the babies cheek to cheek and all the crying immediately stopped.
I don’t know if it was the exhaustion, or the triumph or simply the holiness of the babies being reunited, but there wasn’t a dry eye in the room.

(Dutch Mama Doula and Photographer)

They were literally made to feed babies 🤷‍♀️

Quick reminder 👏🏻

From my friend Gypsynspice- Jenny Tamas

🛒Go on. Treat your bo***es. Lactation supplements & breastfeeding essentials 👇🏻

www.thebreastmilkqueen.com

"Your baby is just using you as a pacifier." 😒 That one makes my skin crawl. It makes as much sense as telling a breastfeeding mother her baby is just "using her as a bottle."

This sentiment pits mother against baby, implies baby is being manipulative, and literally tells a mother she is being "used" by her own helpless infant.

OUR. BABIES. ARE. BIOLOGICALLY. WIRED. TO. COMFORT. NURSE. This is not just good for our babies, but good for our milk supply. The pacifier was invented to replace the breast, which reduces the amount of suckling at the breast, which can be detrimental to milk supply with overuse. Babies use the pacifier as a breast, not the other way around.

We are more than a piece of rubber, and babies nurse for more than just nutrition. Finding comfort in frequent nursing is NORMAL and it is HEALTHY and it is how our bodies and our babies are wired.

Fed is not best, it's expected ❤️

•
Every time I see someone post “fed is best” I cringe.
▪️There are two reasons why this statement really bothers me.
▪️Fed is not best, feeding your baby is not optional. Who is out there with the message, “not feeding is best?”
👶🏻Of course we want you to feed your baby. 🤱🏻🍼(•) (•)
▪️I know that there are people, specifically lactation consultants that have said something or presented information in a way that led to moms feeling guilty about supplementing or not being able to or even wanting to breastfeed.
▪️There are way more of us in this profession that believe that support and information is best, and that support and information is what ever that mom and baby need. If it’s supplementing with formula, we can help with that.
•
▪️The other reason I cringe is because of something that happened last year that I haven’t spoken about publicly because it was initially traumatic and in the end ridiculous.
▪️One of the co-founders of the Fed Is Best foundation picked out a very small part of one of my posts and accused me of promoting the starvation of newborns. The Fed is Best page posted my personal information on their social media and filed a complaint against my nursing license!!! The bullying and harassment I experienced was horrible. They accused me of being an imposter because when they searched my name, they spelled my first name wrong. Thankfully the complaint was immediately denied by the State Board of Nursing.
▪️I am not alone, this pattern of attacking IBCLCs and lactation professionals in general is something that the Fed is Best foundation does regularly. They call us Lactivists as if that is a swear word.
▪️If you read why the FIB foundation was started, it is very sad. The mom and baby were not informed and supported the way that they needed to be.
▪️The pain and anger was turned into an advocacy group that spends more time attacking breastfeeding and the professionals that work in the breastfeeding world.
▪️For those of you that love what I do and know that my passion is to support new parents, whenever you see Fed is Best, you can reply with, “actually support and information are best.”

Some people think that I’m anti-hospital, but I’m not, I’m pro-evidence.
This quote is from Cohain 2012, in her article, ‘Alligators, hospital birth and other urban legends’…. ‘Rational analysis of research shows that planned homebirth with experienced trained attendants has the best outcomes for both mother and newborn for low risk pregnancy’

that’s not my opinion, it’s science folks. Anyone that tells you that all babies should be born in hospital because that’s the safest is a big fat liar or hasn’t looked into the research.

However your breastfeeding journey looked, you are amazing! ❤️

On day 2 of world breastfeeding week I just want to tell you how amazing you all are. Keep calm and latch on!

Join my group https://www.facebook.com/groups/441495507527707/?ref=share_group_link to meet other moms and have some doula led breastfeeding classes and tips!

Don’t like it? Don’t look 🤷‍♀️ Happy World Breastfeeding Week!

Know your options ❤️

Did you know??🤷🏽‍♀️

🔸️Birthing in a parallel foot squatting position can open the pelvic outlet an average of 28% wider then if in the lithotomy position (on your back)?

🔸️ Unfortunately, the lithotomy position is the most widely used birthing position but the least beneficial for mom and baby.

🔸️Before your birth, set up a time to speak with your care provider about all your options; squatting, all 4's standing, birth stool and on your side, just to name a few.

🔸️ Don't wait until you are pushing to negotiate birthing positions!
Happy birthing!

📸 : 2Life Doula

Did you know that even with an epidural you can be in different position throughout labor and delivery!!! Change of position is key for labor and birth!!

Save this awesome picture for when you’re in labor!

Photo creds @ bumpsandb***s instagram

❤️

Now he's definitely a 2 max 😂😂

Oreos.... Let's talk....

Oreos themselves are NOT increasing your supply. They have soy lecithin as one of the ingredients.... Sound familiar?!? Same family as SUNFLOWER LECITHIN... Does the same for your supply. Same as chocolate chips...and many other products...

It's not the cookie.... It's that ingredient. That's why I made the Ryleigh's LC... That added ingredient helps more in addition to the already awesome LACTATION CRACK I use.

So yeah... You can eat all the Oreos in the world and see a change in supply... But you can also get the RLC I make or buy your own sunflower (or soy) lecithin and save some calories.

I will be having a small drop on Monday with some LC and RLC.

I love this ❤️😭🥰

So last Friday night while I was carving and building a cake, I received a random text from one of my friends asking if I could feed a strangers baby. Was there ever a question? The baby's mother was having surgery and the baby is exclusively breastfed and refused a bottle. When the baby arrived you could tell she was hungry and exhausted and just needed some milk. I did what I hope any person would do for my child in a time of despair. I fed a strangers baby. I was so surprised by just how many people thought it was weird, or unnatural. They are b***s, they are meant to feed babies. Also, in case anyone forgot, they are mine, so I'm fairly certain I choose what happens with them. Regardless, I took an amazing photo tandem nursing these two babies together and it shows that hungry babies don't care, they just need to be fed.

Good morning ☀️
Just a ‼️PSA‼️that due dates have a 4% accuracy rate and inductions should not be as common as they are! ❤️

I just think this is so beautiful ❤️ I miss the nursing community we used to have. If there were more people willing to wet (or dry) nurse our babies, maybe new Mama's wouldn't get so burned out 🤷‍♀️❤️

Calling all moms in honor of Mother’s Day 💐

Alyson & Lilyan 💖💜

• Epidural? No
• Pitocin? No
• Caesarean? No
• Gender Reveal party? Yes, with family
• Baby Shower? Yes, thankfully 🙏
• Breastfed? For about 8 weeks, then they drank goat milk
• Due date? 11/9/2017
• Birthday? 11/2/2017
• Nauseated? Yes!!! 🤢
• Cravings? Watermelon (and other fruits), Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup
• Heartburn? Yes 😫
• Swollen? A bit towards the end of my pregnancy, but not too bad at all!
• S*x of baby: Girls!
• Place of birth? Pool in my living room 💦
• Hours in labor? 24 (back labor SUCKS!)
• Any stitches ? Nope

Kenedy 💙

• Epidural? No
• Pitocin? No
• Caesarean? No
• Gender Reveal party? Yes, with family
• Baby Shower? No
• Breastfed? Yes, for about 8 months!
• Due date? 2/5/2019
• Birthday? 2/11/2019
• Nauseated? Yes!
• Cravings? Fruits and salty foods
• Heartburn? Yes!
• Swollen? Nope
• S*x of baby : Boy
• Place of birth? The same pool in the same loving room 😂 💦
• Hours in labor? Technically 8, but I wasn't 100% sure I was actually in labor until like halfway through 😂
• Any stitches ? Nope

Calling all moms in honor of Mother’s Day 💐.

Come on ladies let's hear your stories - it’s fun to fill out and fun to read.

Wouldn't this be a dream? 😍

Me too sis, me too😏

You read that right.

Per the American College of OB/GYN's 2019 VBAC guidelines, the risk of maternal death during a planned vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) is 0.0019%.

Expressed another way, that is a risk of 1 in 52,600.

Did you have any idea the risk was that low?

Whereas the risk of maternal death with an elective repeat cesarean after one cesarean is 0.0096% or 1 in 10,000.

Again, both really small numbers but the risk of maternal death is five times higher in a repeat cesarean.

This is why when pregnant people are threatened with "you could die if you plan a VBAC," it falls flat.

But it is often really successful in coercing someone into a repeat cesarean... as well as eroding patient autonomy and any trust when the birthing person learns the facts.

As a L&D nurse told us, "There is no real informed consent anymore."

This is just yet another example.

ETA: Some people asked in the comments about the risk of fetal death. We discuss that here: https://vbacfacts.com/2012/04/03/confusing-fact-only-6-of-uterine-ruptures-are-catastrophic/

Others have asked about vaginal birth after classical cesarean: https://vbacfacts.com/2021/08/10/vbac-after-classical-t-j-incision/

… or after two cesareans: https://vbacfacts.com/vba2c

… or after three or more cesareans: https://vbacfacts.com/vba3c

Also, you can download our free resources including:

- a report debunking the top 5 uterine rupture myths: https://vbacfacts.com/report

- a handout busting the top 3 VBAC myths using national guidelines: https://vbacfacts.com/acogmyths

- and a VBAC planning checklist: https://vbacfacts.com/checklist

The type of midwife I plan to be ❤️

Yessss!!

🔵"Dilation station" a.k.a. the "GET IT DONE position." 💪🏽🔵

Most of my clients know that I love using the toilet for labor. It's the best way to release a pelvic floor and help a baby descend into the pelvis. The contractions are super intense on the potty, but that's because they are super productive! Trust me when I tell you, this is one of the all time best labor positions!

🚽you are naturally prone to relaxing your pelvic floor and perineum while sitting on the toilet.
🚽the bathroom is a place of privacy and solitude and you are used to relaxing in this room.
🚽you are using gravity
🚽you are opening your pelvis.
🚽you are allowing your baby lots of room to rotate and navigate the birth canal.
🚽you can also turn around and straddle the toilet with a pillow in front of you for comfort.

I call it the “dilation station” for a reason. I’ve encouraged many mommies to spend some time laboring on the toilet. It’s not uncommon for baby to come rather quickly after that 🤗

📸:

Midwife Becky, BA Nikki .birth

Doula Cheryl

Wish we had more professors and opportunities like this ❤️❤️

It's totally normal to be feeling all kinds of emotions when there is a stigma built around 40 weeks or you're 'late'. You are not late, you are right on time!
40 weeks means you made it, now it's time to rest because your baby will be here within the next few weeks, this is what nature intended.

Let your excitement and anxiousness create strength and motivation to hold space to bring your baby earthside. This is the first act of honoring your baby in this physical world, allowing them to naturally descend from your womb into your arms in divine timing.

They have a birth plan of their own and it is respectful of us as mothers to honor that.
It is our spiritual act of love.

The Positive Pregnancy Journey